Neuronista
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Posts posted by Neuronista
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"Your application is currently being reviewed by your graduate program.
The Office of Admissions will notify you when the program has submitted its decision."
And the waiting begins. The terrible waiting ...
Oh so I'm not alone? I thought I was the only one on the planet still waiting for their final school's decision.
I sent them about a week ago. The reply: we are still "deliberating."
OK then. Take your time, dear committee. I've already swallowed the idea that I'm not going anywhere this fall. It would certainly be a surprise if you accept me, but you'll be somewhat messing up with the plans I'm setting right now for the coming year. Anyway, it's up to you. No pressure.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE STILL WAITING!
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I have an interview scheduled tomorrow night. Because im an International Student, its gonna be over the phone. Bah, I dont know what they are gonna ask me about. Any suggestions on how I should approach it?
I had 2 phone interviews.
One interview was more like a friendly conversation:
- Why did you choose this field.
- Tell me about your research experience.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses.
- What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
- What is the last book you read? What is your favorite book? (because I answered the previous question saying I like to read)
- What is the most important thing you look for in a schools you apply to?
Another interview was more research-oriented:
- What was your research about? (and lots of detailed questions about my MS project)
- What techniques you already know and what are others that you would like to learn?
- Would you like to do something closely related to your MS project for your PhD or you do prefer to take on something different?
- Do you have any teaching experience?
- What do you plan to do after you get your PhD?
- What attracted you to our program?
- Did you apply to other schools? Did you get any offers from other places yet?
These are the questions I could remember for now. If I remember any more, I'll post them right away.
Just relax and be yourself
Good luck!
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i do not have a last name. how do i register for GRE ?? Should I fill in the first name in the last name section also ??? Will there be a problem if I enter an 'x' in the last name section...problem in the sense when my scores are send to US universities ?
Hmmmmmmm. How is your name indicated in your passport (or transcripts or other official documents)? There must be some other name along with your given (first) name, am I right? You can use this same name to register for the GRE.
Some people where I live don't have last names either. They use their father's (or grandfather's) name as their last name. I don't know if it's common to do so in India.
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OK! I'm reviving this.
I'm sorry that I didn't have time to make you guys a cartoon (house-buying has taken over my life), so I tried to make myself look like one. This means, of course, that I have completely thrown away any chance I had at remaining anonymous on this forum but, oh well. You guys are worth it. I wanted you to know that I really did honor the song request.
It's a beautiful night here. Just sitting, sipping wine, and playing music. Getting ready for the next chapter of my life.
Edit: Also, remember. wherever you are in your journey, whether you just got into grad school, you're trying again next year, you are just starting, finishing, loving it, hating it, unsure of it, forgetting it... you're going to be great.
Thanks MoJingly! You're awesome and very talented. I was just feeling down and and I was surfing the web aimlessly until I thought I'll visit the forum and saw your post. It really helped me cheer up. Thank you so much!
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On 4/11/2011 at 8:54 PM, mate said:
First post. So, I've got funding (NSF GRFP) and hence take money out of the picture. I want to do research dealing with mammalian neural development and circuit formation. Which program would you suggest, Brandeis or Baylor College of Medicine (for Neuroscience)? It is very much important for me to have both quality publications and good mentors. I'm also mildly persuaded by good weather/location.
Both are excellent programs and have good reputation. What is your definition of "good" weather? Texas (where Baylor is) is warm and it rarely snows in the winter, unlike Massachusetts. For me, I would prefer the later because I would like a colder weather. I live in a hot country and I would like to live some real, cold (preferably snowy) winters
Otherwise, both places are comparable very good to study and to live.
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Thanks
Well, may seem silly, but their site design seemed really reassuring to me. They had great rankings in phds.org for neuroscience, and I liked the close knit environment they spoke about. I had another offer too but chose WFU over that since they have a massive neuroscience program giving me a lot of flexibility for the rotations; the opinions of the current students were very good; and their office responded to my queries within a few days, which to me communicated genuine consideration for their students. The lower cost of living in Winston-Salem and the relatively higher fellowship also helped.
I'm sorry you didn't get into the PhD programs so far. I'm not trying to discourage you but feel it is my duty to let you know that experts advise that you should reconsider before reapplying whether you wish to do a PhD or not, as often people find that the (lack of) high monetary gains for a few years after the PhD are not worth the time and emotions invested. If you are only going to work in industry then a PhD is not necessary. If you haven't done so already you should work in a research lab and see if that is what you truly want. You can also get better LORs there.
If you do want to reapply, most universities keep your app material for the next session too so you may reuse that. A higher GRE score (>1400, one needs practice and I used greedge.com) + TOEFL (>113)+ work ex and papers+ Great SOP (takes 2 months and many revisions). Apply to a wide gradient of colleges Top Middle Safety etc.
Good luck with whatever you do.
Thank you so much for your reply.
Actually I already have an MS in pharmacology, and my thesis topic was in neuropharmacology in particular. I did enjoy the research a lot and I really want to go further for a PhD in neuroscience. But thanks for warning me. This is a piece of advice I give myself to my friends who say they want to go for grad school too
I had good LORs from professors from both undergrad and grad school, and I've already written my SOP (but I think I'll refine it further and show it to more professors for their input). I also think I'll have to retake the GRE and I'm hoping that I'll have at least one more publication by the time I apply. I hope that will help!
The thing is I'm not so sure whether I should re-apply to the same schools or to new ones, but I'm more inclined towards choosing new places. I don't know if a department that has rejected me before will take me the next time I apply
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Minus the living at home part... that still makes me feel like a hobo...
Same here
Good luck on your applications next year!
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I was in a very similar situation this year. I applied to 4 schools, and initially chose 3 people to do my LORs. Two of them were very supportive and even told me never hesitate to ask them to write/fill out more whenever I needed. These were my MS advisors. The third person was the PI in whose lab I currently work as a research assistant. He showed some kind of enthusiasm but would delay doing them week after the other, and I was really embarrassed having to keep reminding him. Therefore, I only asked him to do 2 out of 4 for me. For the rest two schools I found someone else (a prof. from MS). I think my application would have been stronger if an LOR from my current supervisor (who also happens to be my undergrad research project advisor as well!), were included. But I really didn't like the feeling of having to beg him to send those forms for me.
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Well I'll be joining Wake Forest's PhD Neuroscience program. I'm from India.
I'm an international student too and I'm applying for the neurosciences for fall 2011. Unfortunately I got rejected from all except one last school I'm waiting on. I'm thinking they say no, Wake Forest Neuroscience is on the top of my list of programs I'll be applying to next season.
I just wanted to ask you, what attracted you to this program and how easily you think the chances are to get in? Also what other neuroscience programs would you suggest?
Thanks so much and congrats for being admitted
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I've been interviewed by my "supposedly" safety school on April 1st. No word until I had to e-mail them yesterday. I got a quick reply (after a few hours) saying the committee is still deliberating! This is the last school I'm waiting on, and I've been rejected by all others already. I would really like to know their decision ASAP so that if it's a no, I'll want to start preparing for next year (searching for other schools, studying for and retaking the GRE, etc.)
Good luck to all of you and congrats to those who've been admitted
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I'm still waiting too. I haven't heard anything from this school since my interview on April 1. I don't even know if I'm waitlisted. I think I'll have to contact them today to find out. Good luck to you all
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I mean if they havent contacted me yet......am I still in the picture...do I have at least 5% chance of getting admitted ??
Maybe. You never know. Grad schools can be very unpredictable sometimes . This is why it is best to contact the program to find out.
I've heard several stories from people who said that they received offers long after April 15 because someone had declined their offer and they got accepted off a waiting list. One person even told me they got an acceptance letter in June! So hope is always there, and receiving nothing by April 15 does not necessarily mean rejection. Just call or e-mail them to see where you stand.
Good luck and keep us posted!
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I'm an international applicant too and I haven't received anything from one of my schools as well. Yes it is common for grad schools to put applicants on waitlists, but you can never be sure unless they tell you (by e-mail or through their website, for example) or you ask them. I'm planning to e-mail this last program if I receive nothing by Monday to ask them about my status.
Good luck!
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Hi Taylor,
So, in general, do you think that if someone needs to retake the GRE (like me), would better do it before or after the test format changes?
I took the test only once. I messed up the verbal section badly (490), while I got 610 on the quantitative section. I think I can do much better in quant if I practice more because my main obstacle was time (I was pretty slow and I didn't have the time to answer all questions). So If I practice more, I think I'll be able to think faster and do the questions faster.
I'm not sure whether I can do better on the verbal section because I'm really bad at memorizing lists of vocabulary words
I got a 5.0 an the analytical writing section, though.
I'm applying for a PhD in biomedical sciences, so I guess they focus more on the quant score. But I still do need to improve my overall score, including both verbal and quant.
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I took my GRE in Kuwait. All instructions were totally in English, even the "put your coat here" ones
. Kuwait is an Arabic-speaking country, but since the GRE is in English, all test-takers are expected to understand it. No-one spoke Arabic, neither the people at the test center nor the test-takers themselves, even though they looked Arab!
I agree with Ennue. Sending an e-mail just to make sure will not hurt. It will reassure you and will prevent any surprises.
Good luck!
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I think, sadly, I'll be in the same situation. I applied to several schools this year and I'm being rejected by each of them one after the other. I still have one school that didn't reply yet but I'm just assuming it will be a rejection too. Whatever.
Like jaxzwolf, I have a good relationship with all my LOR writers. And one of them, in particular, knows that I'm being rejected (I'm still too embarrassed to tell the others) but still has hope that I just might get accepted into this last place I'm waiting on. He's very supportive and already offered that if nothing works out, he will always be ready to supply me with the number of LOR's a want and that he'll help me improve my application for another round. One other LOR writer is on sabbatical leave; however, before he left he told me to always e-mail him whenever I needed anything and whenever I needed any more LORs. Very sweet of him too.
I know my LORs wish me the very best and that they really do want me to go for that PhD. They were the ones who encouraged me to apply in the first place. But I'm still very embarrassed from them and from everyone else who knew that I was applying. I feel like I want to hide from everyone for a while until they all forget about me and my PhD hunting
Just wanted to vent. Good luck mj53 and to everyone else wants to reapply. We can do this. It's just that our time hasn't come yet!
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Got in!
Congrats! I still didn't get any replies yet.
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My LOR writers are my MS advisors too. I already gave them gifts after I defended. I am planning to give them mugs too. One prof that I am particularly close with and had a great sense of humor will be getting a mug with the "world's greatest professor" writing on it.
He has been more than helpful.OMG this is exactly like my case! My major advisor was incredibly helpful and he does have wonderful sense of humor and I DID give him a mug that said (#1 advisor) on it!
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My LOR writers are my undergrad and MS advisors. so I already gave them gifts when I defended/graduated. I feel it awkward to be giving them more gifts now, isn't it? Not sure.
But what I'll sure be doing if I get accepted into my PhD program is that I'll send them all thank you e-mails, attaching a copy of the acceptance e-mail I'll get (hopefully!). I think that will make them very happy and proud.
I so love Lisa44201's idea of giving them coffee mugs from my grad college. I may do that on my first visit home from grad town
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Considering contacting POI, although I feel I shouldn't, cause I'd be only doing it to resolve my own impatience and there's probably nothing they can tell me.
This is exactly why I'm hesitant! The main reason I'll be calling is just because I'm growing very antsy. Is that a good enough excuse to bother them?
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This is not looking good! Two other people posted their results as being accepted via email this past Saturday. It's Wednesday! D:
This does not necessarily mean anything. Not all acceptance e-mails/letters are sent out at once! You might still get one, so don't give up at this point.
But the question I'm debating right now, as you state above, is: to call or not to call???
Wish you the best of luck. And to all those still waiting!
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I've been interviewed twice by my program of choice. Last interview was over 2 weeks ago. The interviewer told me I'll hear a decision "very soon," but still nothing. I'm getting very impatient, but still hoping for the best.
Sometimes I debate whether I should contact the program administrator or even the interviewer himself to inquire about my status. So far I'm hesitatnt and I'm trying to wait for some more time. But it's already April! This particular school allows each applicant to choose two programs. So in case you're not accepted by your 1st choice, your application will be forwarded to your 2nd choice to be considered. Some posters on this forum already state that their applications have been transferred to their 2nd choice. On my status page, it says that I'm still being considered by my 1st choice program. So what could this mean? Will they accept me? I really hope so.
Good luck everyone
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Both the programs are almost equally good. What you need to compare is which is a better fit according to your research interest. Of course, I would prefer Baylor if I had to choose.
Just curious: why would you prefer Baylor to Duke?
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congratulations! I'm waiting on 2 programs too. Hope to hear some good news soon!
Random thoughts from the application process trenches...
in Biology
Posted
Thank you so much! You gave me a lot of hope
I have an undergrad GPA of 3.30 and an MS with a GPA of 3.36 (both of which I consider to be on the low side) and wasn't able to get in anywhere this season. I thought maybe because of this. I do have research experience and good LORs. But I still think my app needs to be spiced up a little bit more for next time.
I have a question: I'm currently working on two papers. I don't know if any of them will be published by the time I apply in December, but I'm hoping that at least one of them will be. How do I indicate this in my application? Last time, I mentioned in the SOP that I'm preparing manuscripts for publication. Is that good enough? Or the adcoms won't take it unless it's published already? Should I mention this somewhere else in my app?